BACKGROUND 

The Ceramics Society is the new name coined only recently to more effectively embrace the plethora of activities taking place in the UK in the field of ceramics in the fullest sense of the word. Ceramic objects have been in day to day use for more or less the whole of human civilisation, and in the sense of referring to objects made from clay which have been shaped and fired, a significant proportion of today’s ceramic industry is carrying out very similar processes to produce bricks, whitewares and refractory products. However, the term has been widened to include inorganic materials not made from clay, and the range of applications is correspondingly increased, making use of either mechanical behaviour, good high-temperature performance or a range of functional properties.

Prior to the merger leading to the formation of the Institute of Materials in the mid-1980s, the Institute of Ceramics became the Ceramics Industry Division of the Institute of Materials, but remained structured under the five committees of Building Materials, Ceramics Science, Refractories/Industrial Ceramics, Cement & Concrete, and Whitewares. In 2003, discussions with the Institute of Clay Technology led to the latter (under the modified designation of the International Clay Technology Association, ICTa) merging with the Ceramics Industry Division to form the Ceramics and Building Products Division of IoM3. However, ever since the first merger, academics linked in with the Ceramic Science Committee had been increasingly unhappy that the designations given to the Ceramics community had predominantly an industrial flavour, and in no way reflected the activities of the academic ceramic community with its emphasis on research and the development of new ceramic materials. The new name, The Ceramics Society, will allow both the industrial and the academic sectors of the ceramics community in IoM3 to work together side by side in a much more constructive and effective way.

The original 5 committees have remained broadly similar in their spheres of activity – the only change being that of name by the Cement & Concrete committee to the Cementitious Materials Committee in an attempt to more effectively encompass the increased scope of activity in their field. The ICTa group remain an extremely active group, holding a main meeting in early October, and combining with several of the other ceramics committees to put on a large meeting at the end of November. All other committees put on their own meetings (see individual web sites for details), organised either via the IoM3 conference department, or by local organisers. Details of these are given on the individual web pages of these committees.

REMIT

The Ceramics Society exists to provide a forum for the exchange of information, knowledge and state-of-the-art industrial practice on all aspects of ceramic activity within the UK.

SCOPE

The Society is structured under the Six committees of: Building Materials, Cementitious Materials, Ceramics Science, Refractories and Industrial Ceramics, Whitewares and The International Clay Technology Association (ICTa) and it also links in strongly with the Society of Glass Technology (SGT). Its activities focus on all technical, educational, academic and professional issues relating to Ceramics activity within the UK, and it acts as a focal point for information dissemination to IoM3 members who although not specifically involved with activities of the various committees and groups listed above, nevertheless wish to be informed of forthcoming events. It also plays an active role in the European Ceramic Society and interacts more generally on the wider international scene, especially with the International Ceramics Federation (ICF).

MISSION

The Ceramics Society will:

1. Raise the profile of the subject area of ceramics within the UK by publicising its activities to as wide a range of clientele as possible including the media or the press where appropriate, both at a local and a national level.
2. Encourage and coordinate the activities of the technical committees, societies, associations and other groups within its area of responsibility. This will stimulate and maintain an ongoing balanced programme of activities on ceramics-related subjects.
3. Retain and develop existing links with other sub-groups in IoM3, putting on appropriate meetings which reflect areas of importance across the whole field of ceramics in order to maintain the vibrancy of the subject as a whole and meet the needs of members in this area. Also new links will be developed with IoM3 sub-groups in different (but related) disciplines, in topics which are emerging due to new developments in technology.
4. Play an active role in the encouragement of ceramics activity within schools and higher education establishments in the UK. This will include participation in the IoM3 schools programme, playing a supportive role in both teaching and research activities in universities and related higher educational establishments, and promoting the development of industrial-academic collaborations.
5. Encourage training and professional development and put in place new provisions to meet future training needs.
6. Link in with existing and emerging sectors of UK industry (especially SMEs) where ceramics is involved, perhaps as a minor part. Acting as a supplier of information is an important role in these situations, and this will be done via organisations such as the Materials Knowledge Transfer Network.
7. Develop and maintain a Ceramics webpage as part of the main IoM website with appropriate links to all the various constituent committees and groups which the Society comprises. The web page will be used to inform members of new developments and also of the complete range of meetings and activities put on by the different groups encompassed by the UK Ceramics fraternity.
8. Provide a response on behalf of the Institute to government requests for information or feedback on issues in the field of ceramics, which may be in the form of routine enquiries or as part of proposed new government initiatives.
9. Link in and develop relationships with all stakeholders (including relevant professional bodies) on ceramics-related topics which have strong current political and international interest. Such topics currently include sustainability, energy, recycling and environmental issues.
10. Link in with the European Ceramic Society and other relevant European materials organisations, in order to represent the UK perspective on issues which are topical in the European scene. The society will also play a similar part in international affairs, especially in the activities of the International Ceramic Federation.